INVESTIGATIONS ON DURSBAN INSECTICIDE METABOLISM OF O,O-DIETHYL O-3,5,6-TRICHLORO-2-PYRIDYL PHOSPHOROTHIOATE AND 3,5,6-TRICHLORO-2-PYRIDINOL IN PLANTS

Studies on the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of [36C1] Dursban [0,0-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate], [14C] Dursban, [36C1] 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, and[14c] 3,5,6-trichlcro-2-pyridinol in plants show that Dursban is not absorbed into the plant, although it accumulates on the surface of the roots. Once it enters the plant it appears to be metabolized to form primary hydrolysis products where the phosphorus is still attached to the 3,5,6- trichloro-2-pyridinol. The rate at which the 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol enters the plant depends on the pH of the solution. The sodium salt enters the plant more than 5 times faster than the free pyridinol. The pyridinol undergoes metabolism with the liberation of chloride and the formation of several decomposition products.